WWE WrestleMania 33: Assessing The Potential Of All 14 Matches

2. The Undertaker Vs. Roman Reigns

There are concerns - naturally so, given the pained cameo that was Undertaker's Royal Rumble appearance - that the Dead Man might not be physically capable of reclaiming the uplifting form of summer and autumn of 2015 - but then, people thought he was finished after WrestleMania 31, at which he entered only a passable performance with Bray Wyatt.

That said, 'Taker's deterioration could - and should - factor into the narrative. Writing him off is a fool's errand - so much so that it excuses the cliche - but he demonstrably isn't capable of wrestling the sort of epic finisher kick out festival he and Shawn Michaels popularised at WrestleManias 25 and XXVI. Consequently, WWE would do well to structure 'Taker Vs. Reigns in the manner of 'Taker Vs. Triple H at WrestleMania XXVII - a match high on pathos and tragic literary ambition. Many came out of it sympathising with The Undertaker. It foreshadowed his downfall expertly.

WWE has acknowledged that downfall over the past few years. In his underrated, aforementioned series with Brock Lesnar, 'Taker adopted a pseudo heel role. He wrestled as if he knew the myth had been dispelled. Having Reigns destroy him only for the Dead Man to rise just at the last for a breathtaking and suspenseful finishing sequence would serve his understated latter character perfectly.

None of which will even matter, if WWE persists with the idea of having 'Taker endorse Reigns at the match's conclusion. The story, quality, and reception will be in vain. The match will only be remembered for WWE's tone deaf insistence that Reigns is something he is not.